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| Q. |
How do I choose which safe to buy? |
| A. |
Safes come in two kinds, UL
rated and non-UL rated. The UL rating of a safe shows how many
hours it would take a professional to drill, cut or in any other
way get into it. It also tells you how many hours it will remain
fire-resistant. The longer time you want it to withstand the
attacks of man and fire then the rating you should buy.
Of course if you buy a safe with no UL rating then it will not
be certified to resist fire or attack for any length of time at
all.
UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories, the internationally
accepted certifying body for critical devices and systems. |
| Q. |
Do I really need a security
alarm system? |
| A. |
Installing an intruder alarm
where it can be seen easily will deter intruders from trying to
break in, and that by itself will give you comfort. It will also
mean that people will be alerted if someone does try to break
in. The alarm going off will also probably make the intruder
leave rather than carry out the crime. |
| Q. |
How much should I spend on a
new security alarm system? |
| A. |
It depends on the value of
what you are protecting. You can put a value on property but the
value of personal security is subjective. |
| Q. |
What is the difference between a
high-quality security alarm system and a cheap one? |
| A. |
Basically a cheap system costs less and does less. It is less reliable, harder to use and will need to be replaced in a couple of years when it stops working. In the long run a cheap system costs more than a high quality system which is serviced and maintained |
| Q. |
What questions should I ask
the company which is going to install my new security alarm
system? |
| A. |
Lots. Start by asking how
long their staff have been with them and how many staff they
turn over in a year. Ask who their other customers are - if they
tell you then you know they haven't even got the basic
principles of security sorted out. If they need plans of your
house to draw a schematic for the system, ask them what they will do with that schematic after they are finished installing the
system, and ask if they plan to give the schematic to
sub-contractors. Ask what kind of servicing and maintenance the
system will need, if they say none they are probably going to
install a system which you will have to replace in a few years. |
| Q. |
But don't security companies have to work to some kind of standards? |
| A. |
No. Interestingly there are international standards for lots of things like fire, electrical appliances and hygiene, the list is very long. But there are no international standards governing how security companies operate. You have to go by security company's reputation and length of time in operation, as well as the qualifications and experience of the staff. |
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